THE MHD-CONTROLLED TURBOJET ENGINE: AN

ALTERNATE POWERPLANT FOR ACCESS TO SPACE

Dr. Isaiah M. Blankson
Senior Technologist for Hypersonics: Aero-Propulsion
Division
And
Dr. Steven Schneider,
Scientist: Aero-Propulsion Division

NASA Glenn Research Center,

Cleveland, OH

DOE/NETL MHD Workshop

October 2014
 OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION
• TITLE. Introduce Plasma/MHD Team
• Introduction: Access-to-Space, the NASA HYP TSTO Program (TBCC, Alternate
Airbreathing engines). Why airbreathing engines? (case for external oxidizer)
• MHD Applications in Aeronautics and Space.
• Plasmas/MHD in Aeronautics: A new role for “Non-equilibrium plasma
aerodynamics/MHD” (energy bypass, flow control, ignition, fuel reforming etc)
• Rationale and Potential Advantages for MHD-CT
• MHD Energy Bypass Engine
• Full governing Equations
• The governing similarity parameters (Stuart number, Magnetic Reynolds number, etc)
• The Annular Hall Generator: A few results (importance of Hall and ion-slip in WIG)
• Summary and Conclusions
• Challenges and Future work (Sustaining conductivity, magnets, control, etc)
• END
 ADVANCED A/B ENGINES FOR SPACE ACCESS.
(Must Provide Significant Improvements in System Performance or Significant
Reductions in Launch Costs)
• Rocket Engines have traditionally been used for accessing Space.

• The Quest for use of free oxidizer

( 1) AIRBREATHING ENGINES (Reusable): Using Atmospheric Oxygen as Oxidizer can

potentially yield a revolutionary increase in Payload Mass Fraction compared to rockets.
However, no single airbreathing technology can operate over the entire Mach number range
(Mach 0 to 25) required to reach orbit. Thus ramjets, scramjets,TBCC, RBCC, Pulse
Detonation Engines, etc.

(2) AIR Liquefaction Engines: LACE, KLIN (US & WORLD).

(3) PRECOOLED Engines: ATREX(Japan), SABRE (UK) (in the news recently)

(4) RBCC: GRC’s Trailblazer

(5) TBCC: NASA ARMD TSTO Configuration and Mode-Transition Experiment (GRC)

(6) Magneto-Plasma-Chemical Engine: AJAX Scramjet (Russia)

(7) MHD-Controlled Turbomachine: GRC’s Energy-Bypass engine

Further Reading: “Emerging Air-Breathing Propulsion Technologies” - a Book Chapter in Wylie Encyclopedia of
Aerospace Engineering, pp1051-1062), October, 2010. (D. R. Reddy and I. Blankson /NASA Glenn Research Center).
 ENGINES FOR SPACE ACCESS: EXAMPLES
SABRE (UK) ATREX (Japan)

AJAX (Russia)
 “AJAX” KEY HYPERSONIC
VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES

• MHD Power Generation -

power on-board systems for plasma drag reduction. Use
weakly-ionized gases (WIG) ahead of aircraft for shock-
wave modification, modify flow around aircraft, ….
• MHD control of inlet (“magnetic contraction”) flow-field at
off-design conditions, minimize recovery losses, etc.
• MHD Acceleration in nozzle
• Increase range of Scramjet Operation
• In-flight Reforming of kerosene and water fuel mixture to
produce Hydrogen
PLASMA/MHD

Applications of
interest to NASA
 MHD Application Map Applications of MHD Technology- Aeronautics
and Space Research (I)

CONCEPT OF AN MHD ASSISTED SCRAMJET ENGINE

This concept includes an E-beam pre-ionizer, an MHD power
generator, an MHD compressor, a combustor, and an MHD
accelerator

MHD /Nuclear Space Power for Space Vehicle MARIAH: Hypersonic Wind-tunnel – MHD Acceleration
 Applications of MHD Technology- Aeronautics
and Space Research (II)
Plasma/MHD Flow Control in Inlets

Artist Concept of a Regenerative Aerobraking Capsule

during Martian Entry. Collection ports are located aft of nose
region to maximize MHD power generation.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASA GRC Hypersonics Project:

Enable Airbreathing Access to Space: Focus on Turbine- Based Propulsion
Systems, Also Consider Other Propulsion Systems (RBCC, PLASMA/MHD, etc)

Rocket
Powered
2nd Stage:
Orbital Vehicle

AIRBREATHING 1ST STAGE

FUEL: LH2
Your Title Here 9
www.nasa.gov
 TBCC Propulsion Benefits : Efficiency, Safety, Reliability

8000 Airbreathing Propulsion Significantly

Hydrogen Fuel Increases Propulsion Efficiency
Hydrocarbon Fuels
6000 Turbojets
Rocket
Isp RBCC
TBCC
4000 Ramjets

Turbojets Scramjets
2000
Ramjets

Scramjets
Rockets

0
0 10 20
Mach

ISP = Thrust/Pound per second of propellant (fuel) flow rate

 Turbine-Based Combined-Cycle (TBCC)
Engine Mode Transition Challenge
• TBCC engines comprised of turbines mounted over
ramjets/scramjets are promising propulsion systems for hypersonic
cruise aircraft and reusable launch vehicles
• Feasibility of mode transition between engines has not yet been fully
established. (1957 Experiment at AEDC, NASA GRC Experiment
currently in 10X10)
– Aerodynamic, mechanical and thermal interactions must be understood
and managed
– Thrust margin must remain adequate with little or no operability risk
– Airframe-engine system must be able to tolerate and control events that
could cause mission failure or vehicle loss (e.g., inlet unstart, engine
flameout, thermal transients, etc.)
Low-speed turbine (M<4)

Low-speed
Low-speed inlet nozzle

High-speed inlet High-speed

nozzle
GP24122014.ppt RAM/SCRAMjet
CCE LIMX Installed in NASA 10X10 SWT

10
 Motivation Behind Concept: Sustained Hypersonic Flight (I)
• MHD Engine is proposed as a single-flowpath alternative to current Turboramjet
Architectures.
The ‘Over-Under’ and ‘Wrap Around’ flow-paths are heavy, require mode transition during
acceleration and deceleration, have high design sensitivity, and are prone to ‘unstart’. Also
“deadweights” are carried along.

• GOAL: Extend Operating Range of Turbojets to Mach 7 for Sustained Hypersonic Flight
Address Off-design performance of airbreathers and greatly reduce sensitivities. Exploit
Thrust Capabilities and Reliability of Turbomachinery. No “mode-transition” and no dead
weights carried aloft!

• MHD Power Generation - power on-board systems for plasma drag reduction. Use weakly-
ionized gases (WIG) ahead of aircraft for shock-wave modification, modify flow around aircraft, ….

• MHD control of inlet (“magnetic contraction”) flow-field at off-design conditions, minimize

recovery losses, etc.

• ADDRESS MAJOR ISSUE: AIRFRAME-PROPULSION-CONTROLS INTEGRATION (PAI): The

development of an airbreathing hypersonic vehicle requires the demonstration of an
integrated design. Integrate MHD with High Mach/High L/D Waverider Configuration for space
access vehicle.

• Address vehicle design issues that are sufficiently complex and dependent in some
unknown way on scale, such that they may not be reliably resolved even by combining test
results from a number of separate facilities.
 MHD ENGINE
A NEW ROLE FOR NON-EQUILIBRIUM
PLASMA
AND MHD (MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS)
FOR A FLIGHT-WEIGHT ENGINE
 SPACE LAUNCH MISSION: TWO-STAGE
TO ORBIT LAUNCH VEHICLE (TSTO)

ROCKET-POWERED
2ND STAGE:
ORBITAL VEHICLE

MHD AIRBREATHING
1ST STAGE

Airbreathing 1st stage (Accelerator) uses Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) fuel. (On-board
cryogenics). Oxygen (O2) from atmosphere.

Horizontal take-off to Mach 7.

Cryostats, etc capable of supporting Hi-Temp Superconducting Magnets.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Objectives/Program and Project Goals

• Establish the feasibility and demonstrability of kinetic energy bypass from the inlet
air stream of a jet engine. This energy bypass is accomplished using weak ionization
of the inlet stream by an external means and MHD interaction with the ionized gas.
The engine will consists of an existing commercial or military jet engine preceded by
an MHD power extractor. The jet engine may be a turbojet (e.g. Allison J-102),
turbofan, or a ramjet, individually, or in various combined configurations.
The MHD power generator is a novel GRC invention (Patent issued). The resulting
engine is a revolutionary power-plant capable of flight to Mach 7.

• Provide a physics based tool to conduct a 1-D axi-symmetric analysis of an annular

MHD Hall generator/accelerator for :
- Turbojet cycle analysis
- Preliminary generator/accelerator design

• Predict whether nonequilibrium* ionization (a key enabling technology) using pulsed

nanosecond discharges (FIW) can be used to produce a Lorentz body force in the
flow with a magnitude sufficient to:
- Generate/deliver substantial amounts of electrical power in supersonic flow
- Considerably reduce/increase the kinetic energy of supersonic flow without
shock/expansion waves.
*
www.nasa.gov 16
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Annular MHD Hall Generator Concept

• Geometrically compatible with a turbojet
• Current spirals down the flow path setting
up an axial Hall electric field tapped for
power extraction/addition
Br • Conductivity established by non-
equilibrium ionization (not alkali metal
addition)
Ez
j
• Geometry already used on the Russian
Stationary Plasma Thruster for space
propulsion
• Geometry explored for combustion-driven
MHD power generation in the 1930s
to1950s (K and H generator)
• Concept offers the potential for a single
flow path to Mach 7+ without mechanical
mode transitions
– Electrically maintained enthalpy

www.nasa.gov 17
The K (Karlovitz) and H (Halasz) Hall Generator circa 1933.
(Westinghouse)
 General Arrangement of MHD-
Controlled turbojet
High-Speed Propulsion (NASA GRC)

Pre-ionizer

GOAL: Extend the operating range of a jet engine to Mach 7+

FURTHER INFO IN: IAF-00-5-5-05. AIAA PAPERS 2003-6922, 2003-4289, 2009-1051. 2011-
2230, NASA/TM – 2003-212612. US Patent (6,696,774 B1, 2004),
 MHD/PLASMA equations with nonequilibrium air chemistry.
∂ρ
Continuity of Mass + ∇ ⋅ (ρV ) = 0
∂t

= − ∇ p + ∇ ⋅τ + (∇ × B )× B
DV  1
Conservation of Momentum ρ
Dt µ0

η
= − p ∇ ⋅ V − Φ + ∇ ⋅ (K ∇ T ) + 2 (∇ × B ) + ∑ ∇ (ρDim ei ∇ ci )
11
De
ρ
2
Conservation of Energy: Dt µo i =1

 1
Magnetic Induction:
∂B
= ∇ × (V × B ) − ∇ × (η ∇ × B ) − ∇ × 
1
(∇ × B )× B 
∂t µ0  neeµ0 

•
Conservation of species: Dci wi ∇ ⋅ (ρDim∇ci )
= +
Dt ρ ρ

∇ ⋅ (ρDim evib∇ci ) d (ci ρ )

Conservation of Vibrational Energy:
Devib
= ∑ (
1 eq
)
evib ,i − evib ,i +
ρ
+G
Dt molecules τ i dt

Equation of State: P = ∑ ci ρℜT / M i

(Maxwell’s Equations, Navier-Stokes Equations, and Nonequilibrium Chemical Kinetics)

 A weakly-ionized gas (WIG) implies that Hall effect
and ion-slip terms will contribute to the current:
OHM’s LAW for WIG
    Ωe  
j = σ ( E + v × B) −
B
( j × B − ∇ pe ) + (1 − α ) 2 ΩeΩ+

B2
  
( j × B) × B [ ]
Hall Effect Ion slip

incorporates Ohm’s law through the ∂B β

= − ∇ × [(∇ × B )× B ]
•
magnetic induction equation. ∂t hall µ0
∂B
∂t
= ∇ × (V × B ) − ∇ × (η ∇ × B )
1
µ0
(
Bin, j+1,k +1 = Bin, j+1,k − α ⋅ P ⋅ Fi , j B n+1,k , B n ,k )
 1 
( )
F B n+1,k , B n ,k = B n+1 − B n + ∆t ∇ ×  (∇ × B∗ × B∗ )
 µ 0 ne e 
• The Hall Effect term is solved with an (
B ∗ = 0.5 ⋅ B n+1 + B n )
iterative, semi-implicit method based on a
Crank-Nicolson discretization .
 
∂B   (1 − α ) 2  ∇ × B    
• The Ion Slip term is solved with an iterative, = ∇×  × B  × B 
implicit method. ∂t ionslip  ne m+ν o+ µ
 o  

Arnold, L.,., R., “A Semi-implicit Hall-MHD

Solver Wave Preconditioning”,
Computer Physics Communications 178 (2008) 553-557
 COMPUTER SIMULATION: AVAILABLE CODES USED
• (1) MACH2 Code Simulation: For Weakly-Ionized Gas. (2.5-D)
• Time-dependent, 2- D axisymmetric simulation tool for complex planar or cylindrical geometries. Quasi-neutral,
Viscous Compressible Fluid with Elastic-plastic Package, Ablation Models and Multi-Material Capability. Park non-
equilibrium model.
• Multi-temperature: Electron, Ion, Radiation . Various Radiation Models With Real Semi-empirical Opacities.

• Resistive-Hall-MHD with Braginskii Transport, Multi-ported Circuit Solver (e.g. LRC, PFN), Various Models For
Anomalous Resistivity and Electron-Neutral Contributions
• Analytic or Real Semi-empirical (SESAME) Equations of State, LTE Ionization State

• (2) OSU NON-EQUILIBRIUM FLOW CODE ( 1-D )

• Master equation for vibrational populations of N2 and O2.. Boltzmann equation for electrons.
• Nonequilibrium air chemistry including ion-molecule reactions
• Nonequilibrium electron kinetics (ionization, recombination, and attachment)
• 1 – D Gas dynamics. Generalized Ohm’s law
• Validated by comparing with electric discharge, shock tube, and MHD experiments

• (3) IN-HOUSE ENGINEERING CODE: 1 - D Axisymmetric (equations with large radius

approximation/small gap gives a meanline generator/accelerator design.)
• “MHD approximation “to fundamental equations of plasma dynamics (Low Magnetic Reynolds Number,
Maxwell’s Equations unaffected by gasdynamic motion, magnetic field induced by fluid motion negligible
compared to applied Magnetic Field).
Approach from DOE MHD generator program: Assumes steady state “Plasma Dynamics” using the
conservation laws and conductivity. No detailed plasma kinetics!
 Preliminary Results
MHD Bypass Engine Application –OSU Evaluation
Power, MW
Exit Mach number 10
3.0

8
2.5

2.0
4

1.5 Electric power output

2
Kintetic energy reduction

1.0 0
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4
E-beam power, MW E-beam power, MW

•OSU quasi-1D, nonequilibrium MHD air flow code used

•Ionization by uniformly distributed e-beam (need simulation with pulsed ionizer)
•Realistic E-beam power 0.11 MW (20 keV electron beam, 0.2 mA/cm2)
•10 Tesla magnetic field

•Substantial reduction in the kinetic energy of supersonic flow is possible

•50% Conversion of kinetic energy to electrical power predicted
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

3-D MHD Equations in Low Rem Approximation

• Analytical approach (from DOE MHD generator program):
Assumes steady state “Plasma Dynamics” using the
conservation laws and conductivity
- induced magnetic field << applied magnetic field (Small Magnetic Reynolds Number)

Momentum:

Mass:

Energy:

Current:

Ohm’s Law:
• Friction/heat neglected. “Kinetics” neglected.
www.nasa.gov 24
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Axisymmetric 1-D MHD Assumptions

• Azimuthal symmetry
• Large radius approximation,
with functions of z only: p(z),
vθ(z), vz(z), jθ(z), jz(z), T(z),
ρ(z), Ez(z)
• Constant terms: Br, σ
• Zero terms: Bθ, Bz, vr, jr, Eθ, Er
• Ideal, calorically perfect gas
• Pure Hall device: Applied
tangential Eθ is zero by short
circuit around the annulus.

www.nasa.gov 25
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Engineering Model: Axisymmetric 1-D MHD

Equations

Axial Momentum:

Angular Momentum:

Continuity:

Energy:

Current:

Axial Ohm’s Law:

Azimuthal Ohm’s Law:

www.nasa.gov 26
 Basic scaling parameters (I)
Reynolds Number
Inertia Forces U0L
Re = =
Viscous Forces υ

 Re <<1
m

Magnetic Reynolds Number  compared to applied field, B = B

Induced magnetic field is small

 Applied

 AND
Convection of B Induced Field U L
Re m =  = = 0 = µ 0σU 0 L
Diffusion of B Applied Field υm

 Electric field can be expressed as

 Gradient of a potential, E = -gradΦ
Stuart Number (Magnetic Interaction parameter)

Electromagnetic Forces σB02 L σU 0 B02

N ≡ St = = =
Inertia Forces ρU 0 ρU 02 L
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

1-D Annular MHD Solution Procedure

• Given inlet plasma dynamic conditions
• Equations numerically integrated wrt /z with inputs – Br, σ, L
• Two temperature plasma model of nonequilibrium ionization
- Ts – bulk gas static temperature
- Te – constant electron temperature (1 ev, 11605oK)

Electron cyclotron frequency

• Hall parameter X mean free time between
collisions

• Hall loading parameter

• Geometry specification

www.nasa.gov 28
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Annular MHD Hall Generator Design

Inlet conditions:
6 0.1
M = 5.02

Flow Area~m2-s/kg
5

Mach Number
0.08
4
Ps = 32.7 Torr 3
0.06
0.04
2
Ts = 420oK 1 0.02
0 0
Generator parameters: 0 1 2 3 4
Z~m
Br = 5 Tesla
3000 2500
σ = 5 mho/m 2500 2000
2000

Po~kPa
To~oK
1500
L=3m 1500
1000
1000
Kh =-0.09 500 500
0 0
d(ρvz)/dz=-21 kg/m3-s 0 1 2 3 4
Z~m
ηNg= 0.63 60 -17

Axial Electric Field

Hall Parameter ωτ
ηs = 0.84
50 -18
40 -19

Ez~kV/m
30 -20
V = 55.8 kV 20 -21
10 -22
I = 28.7 Amp/kg/s 0
0 1 2 3 4
-23

Pe=1.60 MW/kg/s Z~m

www.nasa.gov 29
MHD Energy Bypass Demonstration in Turbojet-Based Engines:
Preliminary findings – Simulation using Allison J-102 Engine

• Mach 0.9 – 2.0: Aerodynamic Drag Control with WIG

• Mach 2.0 – 3.0: Power Generation and Bypass in Question
• Mach 3.0 – 7.0: Power Generation and Bypass Feasible

NOTE: In the Mach 2.0 – 3.0 regime, a SIMULTANEOUS MASS

BYPASS may be desirable / advantageous.
 National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Activities in Plasma Laboratory (VF69)

Understand the physics of the cold, non-equilibrium plasma generation in air and provide data for a
multi-temperature model development to be used for evaluating its effectiveness in hypersonic flow
control, heat transfer reduction, power generation, and noise suppression.

“PULSER-SUSTAINER” TECHNIQUE CHOSEN

Generation of Plasma with FIW FOR PLASMA GENERATION.

• Sub-atmospheric conditions set by Mach 7 flight at 30

km
• Bell jar with mechanical pump and dry air source
assembled for 10 to 80 Torr

40 KV 20nsec
Power Supply
Plasma
Streamer
s
High Voltage Pulsed Power Supplies (FIW):
• High voltage pulser power supply with 10 to 100 kV
amplitude, 2 ns rise, 2 to 5 ns width, 3 ns fall, and 6 to
100 kHz repetition rate.
Top View • 2nd pulser power supply :10 to 40 kV amplitude, 2 ns
rise, 20ns width, 3 ns fall, and 6 to 100 kHz repetition
Plasma rate.
• Sustainer floating power supply with 2 kV and 3 A
www.nasa.gov 31
 Non-equilibrium Ionization Assessment
• Pulser-sustainer discharge1 ionization process using
nanosecond pulses is proposed as the means for the non-
thermal ionization
– Energizes and sustains electrons at a high Te while maintaining a low
nearly constant ion/neutral temperature Ts
– σ=1.0 - 5.0 mho/m requires an ne/n=1.90x10-6-9.52x10-6 for Te=1ev1
– Initial belljar tests2 indicate an ionization fraction 1.1x10-8 at 50 Torr
• Annular Hall type MHD Generator/Accelerator operation
– Azimuthal current could act like a sustainer current to keep Te
elevated
– Non-thermal ionization facilitates MHD interaction with the core flow
since the boundary layers won’t have a higher conductivity
1) Nishihara, M., Rich, J. W., Lempert, W. R., Adamovich, I. V., and Gogineni, S., “Low-Temperature M=3
Flow Deceleration by Lorentz Force”, Physics of Fluids, Vol. 18, No. 8, August 2006, pp. 086 101-086-111
2) Schneider, S.J., Kamhawi, H., and Blankson, I.M., “Efficient Ionization Investigation for Flow Control and
Energy Extraction”, AIAA-2009-1050, 47th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, Orlando, FL, January 5-8,
2009.

32
 PLANNED
PLASMA/MHD
EXPERIMENT
MHD/Turbojet Engine Concept: Planned Future Experiment
in NASA 10X10 Wind-Tunnel using Allison J-102
MHD Generator Variable geometry
(Axisymmetric Mach 3 Inter-stage
Turbojet Engine
Mach 7 Inlet Hall Type) region
Allison J-102 Class

Super- Bypass
FIW Plasma conducting doors
guns Magnet

MHD Power Extraction Patent

Annular Hall –Type MHD Generator: Based on Hall thruster Design for Space and Fast
Ionization Wave non-equilibrium plasma generation. US Patent (6,696,774 B1; 2004)
 Experimental Method for Conducting Engine Test
(1X1 for small-scale engine, HTF for large-scale. Turbomachine may sit outside tunnel stream.)
 MHD–CONTROLLED TURBOJET:
Summary: Initial Analysis and Findings
This Mach 7+ (projected) is based on the combination of two proven technologies(each
over 50 years old) :
(1) Deceleration of an artificially-ionized supersonic/hypersonic stream by applied
magnetic fields (MHD) and,
(2) Turbomachinery.

• MHD Engine Bypass Concept has 2 Major Advantages:

(1) Turbomachinery operates continuously over entire Mach range
from 0 – 7. No mode transition.
(2) No deadweight engines carried aloft.
(3) Hydrocarbon Fuel reforming technology using plasmas is available so conversion
to Hydrogen in-situ may be exploited.

• CRITICAL ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES in: Ionizers (electron beam, microwave, high-

voltage pulsed power, etc devices) for sustained conductivity along Hall Generator,

- design of the “Interstage region” between Generator Exit and Turboengine. --

Approaches to reduce total pressure loss via ejectors must be explored

- Lightweight magnets of nanotube construction, or superconducting magnets.

Issues lie in magnet weight if hydrocarbon fuels are used. Superconducting magnets
if liquid hydrogen is the fuel.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

EPILOGUE: Why pursue this science?

• A dedicated NASA effort in plasma and magneto-aerodynamics
will:
(1) Sustain the science in the face of increasing world-wide activity
(2) Developing efforts for light-weight magnets
(3) High pressure ion-beam technologies
(4) Lay ground work for plasma/MHD-integrated flight vehicle design:
projected improvements in performance can truly enhance the feasibility of
hypersonic flight and space access.
(5) Hypersonic MHD is a truly multidisciplinary subject: The ability to model
it in a realistic manner will be a triumph for applied math methods in fluids,
electromagnetics (gaseous and solid), and in the non-equilibrium kinetic
modeling of plasmas.
• MHD body force offers an inherently variable geometry and means
of shockless interaction with high speed inlet flows. “Shockless”
supersonic flow is possible!

www.nasa.gov 37
 THANKS to my PLASMA/MHD Colleagues
• Dr. Steve Schneider (NASA GRC)

• Dr. Theresa Benyo (GRC) (PhD June, 2013, Kent State University). Thesis title is
“Computational Investigation of MHD Energy-Bypass System for Supersonic Gas Turbine Engines”.
• Dr. Eric Gillman (PhD 2012, University of Michigan) Thesis title is “ Cathode Spot Injection
of Dielectric Particles with Applications to Radio Communications Blackout Plasma Depletion”, NASA GSRP.
Currently at Naval Research Laboratory
• Mr. Benjamin Yee (PhD, University of Michigan) (September, 2013) Thesis title is “The
Energetics of a Pulsed-Nanosecond Discharge with Application to Plasma-Aided Combustion.” NASA GSRP
Currently at SANDIA.
• Dr. John Foster (Professor, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor)
• Plasmas/MHD for Flow Control of and Energy Extraction from Weakly and Fully Ionized Hypersonic flows:
(Understand the physics of the plasma mechanism for practical aerospace applications. The critical science
issue is the nature of the coupling that can arise between a weakly-ionized gas and a gas dynamic flow-field,
and its possible control for favorable effects).

• MHD-Energy Bypass Engine Concept.

• Sonic Boom Reduction by Plasma

• Injection of Repetitive High-Voltage Nanosecond Plasma in dielectric liquids (water, hydrocarbon fuels, etc).

• Reentry plasmas and antenna breakdown: Mitigation of Reentry Communications Blackout using “Magnetic
Windows”. Communications and GPS issues.
Questions?

39